Tuffey seeking whitewash

New Zealand bowler Daryl Tuffey has revealed the Kiwis will be targeting a total clean sweep against Bangladesh.

By Rachel Griffiths

Last Updated: 02/02/10 12:11pm

New Zealand bowler Daryl Tuffey has revealed his side will be targeting a total clean sweep against Bangladesh in all forms of the game.

The Tigers have landed in New Zealand and will play one Twenty20, three one-day internationals and a solitary Test match over the next three weeks.

"We do want to whitewash them in all forms of the games," Tuffey told Radio Sport.

"We want to play well and win on Wednesday in the Twenty20 and the three one-dayers, especially moving forward against Australia who are obviously going to be a lot stronger competition."

Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons, however, believes his side will present tougher competition than they did during their last visit to New Zealand in 2008, when they were defeated comfortably in both the ODIs and Tests.

Despite the absence of key bowler Mashrafe Mortaza due to illness, Siddons insists Bangladesh will embark on the tour a significantly improved side following their 2-0 Test series defeat of West Indies last July and notable performances against Sri Lanka and India.

"We are still a young side but they are starting to show real signs we are improving," Siddons told The Dominion Post.

"In the Test against India, we had three different guys make 100s and five bowlers taking five-fors. We also saw Shakib continuing his form with another five-for so that's really great signs for us."

The series gets underway in Hamilton on Wednesday with New Zealand firm favourites to win, but captain Daniel Vettori has played down persistent speculation of player power in the national set-up.

Mark Greatbatch was appointed as New Zealand coach at the weekend to replace Andy Moles, who resigned last October after losing the confidence of the Black Caps players, but national selector Vettori insists he and the other team members are not in control of the side.

"The only player power that's going on is about players trying to become better. And it's as simple as that. There's no underlying movements, nothing going on," said Vettori.

"I don't run the team day-to-day. It's obviously been misrepresented on a number of occasions.

"On the field is my domain and the manager and coaches look after everything else."